Our Blog

Last week, Montréal celebrated its 375th Birthday. A wide range of activities are planned to mark the occasion. We have roots in Montréal and send countless student groups there - for both French and Spanish immersion trips with their language teachers - so it comes as no surprise that much of our team has something to say about what this wonderful city means to them:

Last month we shared a beautiful testimonial from Tehya, a student from New York who had wonderful things to say about her recent Jumpstreet school trip to Morocco. Everyone in our office was so moved that we started exchanging some of our own life-changing travel moments; now, we sharing them with you!

It’s no secret that maple syrup is huge in Quebec. No matter the time of year, virtually all of our Quebec student tours experience its gooey goodness when they visit a cabane à sucre (sugar shack), where syrup is cultivated from maple trees.

We know what you’re thinking: “Waterfalls in Québec? At this time of year?! Have you lost your marbles?”

We haven’t lost our marbles … not yet at least. Whether it's January or June, the glorious Chutes Montmorency (Montmorency Waterfalls) is a must-see for any Quebec City school trip. Québec’s founder, Samuel de Champlain, named the falls after Henri II, duc de Montmorency, who served as the viceroy of New France in the 1620s. The falls are the tallest in the province – taller even than Niagara, in fact – and are host to spectacular views, stunning natural formations and French Canadian legends that could have been written by Nicholas Sparks.

Picture this: it’s the night before your trip to Quebec’s wintery wonderland and your room looks like a dog’s breakfast of wool socks and long johns. You sit on top of your suitcase and carefully zip it shut, and just as you’re about to pat yourself on the back for a packing job well done, that sinking feeling sets in and you realize: I forgot to pack underwear!

We’ve all been there before. Packing for a trip, particularly one that will take you into the heart of a Canadian winter, can be overwhelming. While you don’t always have the luxury of being over-prepared for your adventure, you certainly can’t afford to be under-prepared.

Halloween is a Centuries-old tradition with many different incarnations, from ancient Celtic harvest festivals to all-night zombie movie marathons. Whether you’re bobbing for apples, carving pumpkins or embarking on an epic trick-or-treat run, the events of October 31 are shaped by the myths and symbols that express our fears, our thrills and especially our unending love of candy.

The French expression bon vivant refers to someone who simply loves life to the fullest. The spirit of Montréal is bon vivant personified. Between its youthful student population (second largest in North America) and cultural diversity, Montréal has mastered the art of breathing life into its vibrant cityscape.

Perhaps the best way to tap into Montréals bon vivant spirit is through its festival calendar. Depending on who you ask, the city is host to as many as 60 festivals a year. Thats five a month! Our citys penchant for festivalsis such an integral part of its identity that we devoted an entire chunk of our downtown core, le Quartier des spectacles, to hosting these massive shindigs.

Naturally, some festivals are more renowned than others. Both the International Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs, in June and July respectively, immediately spring to mind, drawing not only millions of visitors but also thousands of world class performers. Theres also Les FrancoFolies, another summer music festival that is fast-becoming a global epicentre of French arts and entertainment.

So weve got our summer festivals pretty much covered  now what about those less forgiving months when les Montréalais trade the sunshine in for snow? Thats where Montréal en Lumière (Montreal Highlights Festival) comes in, a two-week showcase of the citys wondrous, wintery metropolis. Having first kicked off in February 2000, the event has since evolved into a non-stop party. The festivities revolve around an epic Nuit Blanche, an all-night citywide party that includes live DJs, fine dining, stunning art installations and countless activities to keep you nice and toasty. Did we mention the 360-foot outdoor slide?

Here at Jumpstreet, one of the many ways we celebrate our Canadian roots involves getting together with our loved ones and eating copious amounts of pie-based food. We call this wonderful feast Thanksgiving, and we celebrated it last weekend.